Compacting roll structure and method

ABSTRACT

A material compacting apparatus and method wherein a roll tire is located on a supporting shaft section. The roll tire is preferably heated to a temperature in excess of the shaft temperature whereby the tire can be more readily located in position relative to the shaft section. A key structure is employed for securing the tire against movement relative to the shaft section. The key structure comprises a base which is attached to the shaft section and an extension adapted to be received within a recess defined in a side edge of the roll tire. A retaining plate serves to adjustably hold wedges which are adapted to be inserted between the sidewall of a key extension and an inner wall of a recess. A plurality of key structures are preferably employed and the retaining plate serves to secure the assembly of keys and wedges after the wedges are tightly fit relative to the key extension.

United States Patent 11 1 Harris COMPACTING ROLL STRUCTURE AND METHOD[75] Inventor: Leroy S. Harris, Rolling Meadows,

Ill.

[73] Assignee: K-G Industries, Inc., Rosemont, Ill.

[22] Filed: July 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 269,049

52 U.S. c1 29/118, 29/123, 29/129.5 51 B60b 7/00 [58] Field of Search29/123, 124, 125,-

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1909 Nash 29/124 5/1958Naab 29/148.4 D X Dec. 4, 1973 Primary ExaminerAlfred R GuestAttorney-McDougall, Hersh & Scott [5 7 ABSTRACT A material compactingapparatus and method wherein a roll tire is located on a supportingshaft section. The roll tire is preferably heated to a temperature inexcess of the shaft temperature whereby the tire can be more readilylocatedin position relative to the shaft section. A key structure isemployed for securing the tire against movement relative to the shaftsection. The key structure comprises a base which is attached to theshaft section and an extension adapted'to be received within a recessdefined in a side edge of the roll tire. A retaining plate serves toadjustably hold wedges which are adapted to be inserted between thesidewall of a key extension and an inner wall of a recess, A pluralityof key structures arepreferably employed and the retaining plate servesto secure the assembly of keys and wedges after the wedges are tightlyfit relative to the key extension.

23 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures 1 COMPACTING ROLL STRUCTURE AND METHODThis invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing improvedroll structures. The invention will be particularly described withreference to compacting equipment employing a roll tire associated witha supporting shaft; however, it will be apparent that the concepts ofthe invention are applicable to a variety of roll constructions. As anexample of the utility of the invention, the compacting roll can beutilized in briquetting operations and similar operations where highstresses and otherwise severe operating conditions are encountered.Alternatively, the invention has application with respect to rollstructures formed from materials having good compressive strength butpoor tensile strength whereby even low tensile forces can damage a roll.

Due to the stresses encountered and temperature conditions of materialcompacting operations, the production of suitable compacting rolls hasalways created problems. Such rolls, for example when made fromhardenable cast materials, are subject to cracking. If a degree ofductility is provided, the roll material is often too soft to withstandlong periods of use. This, of course, requires relatively frequentreplacement of high cost rolls.

In order to overcome certain difficulties encountered in the productionof material compacting rolls, attempts have been made to produce rollswhereby the compacting surfaces could be more easily replaced. Removablebriquetting roll inserts have been suggested, for example as describedin Komarek, et al. US. Pat. No. 3,077,634. Although structures of thistype permit replacement of worn roll parts, the multiplicity ofoperations involved tends to be inefficient. In addition, the productionof a large number of separate roll parts, each of which must beaccurately dimensioned, results in a relatively expensive construction.

Attempts have also been made to provide roll tires which compriseintegral cylindrical members which can be located on a roll shaft. Suchmembers have roll pockets defined on their outer surfaces and means areprovided for securing the tires on the roll shaft. The latter may beaccomplished by shrink fitting the roll tire on the shaft or through theuse of key structures which comprise axial keys adapted to be receivedby key slots formed in the hardened steel tires.

In a briquetting operation, roll tires and the attaching means thereforare subjected to very high cyclic compressive forces in addition todriving torque forces. In the case of shrink-fit tires, the hich cyclicstresses lead to the development of cracks which make this arrangementimpractical in high force applications or with roll materials of lowstrength. In the case of available key designs, the provision of slotsor other arrangements for securing keys to the roll tire results instress concentrations. Accordingly, cracks are also prevalent inapplications of this type.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a roll tireconstruction which can be efficiently secured to a supporting roll shaftand effectively maintained in position on the shaft. 7

It is a further object of this invention to provide a roll tireconstruction in association with a novel key arrangement whereby theroll tire can be maintained on the shaft until replacement is requireddue to wear experienced by the roll tire.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter andfor purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, reference is madeto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a roll shaft and roll tire constructioncharacterized by the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken about the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of a roll tire characterized by the featuresof this invention;

' FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a roll shaft designedfor use in conjunction with'the roll tire of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of the roll shaft taken about the line 55 ofFIG. 4;

FIGi 6 is a plan view of the roll tire shown partly cut away;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the alignment ofroll tire and roll shaft recessed areas;

FIG. 8- is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the roll tire andshaft areas with a key member in place;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the roll tire andshaft areas with wedge members in place;

FIG. 10- is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the roll tire andshaft areas with a retaining plate in position;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken about the line l'l"1-11 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken about the line 1"212 of FIG. 8;

FIG. '13 is a sectional view taken about the line 13-13'of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken about the l414 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view illustrating an alternative arrangementfor securing a roll tire to a shaft;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation of a roll tire structure adapted for use inan alternative form of the invention;

FIG. 17 is an elevational view, partly cut away, of the roll tireconstruction shown in FIG. 16 and illustrating the retaining mechanismutilized therewith;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the retaining keyand wedge assembly employed with the structure of FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the retainingarrangement of FIG. 18 with the retaining plate secured in place;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating a furtheralternative arrangement for a retaining mechanism; and,

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary view taken about the line 2121 of FIG. 20 andillustrating the mechanism with the retaining plate in position.

This invention is generally directed to a material compacting apparatusand method wherein a roll tire is located on a supporting shaft. Thetire is secured to the shaft by means of at least one key which definesa base and an extension from the base. The base is secured to thesupporting shaft while the extension fits within a recess defined by aroll tire.

At least one wedge is located in the recess along with the extension. Aretaining plate is associated with the described combination foradjustably holding the wedge within the recess. The combination isdesigned so that the wedge can be fitted into place to tightly selinecure the roll tire from rotation relative to the supporting shaft. Oncethe adjustment of the wedge is completed, securing means associated withthe retaining plate serve to lock the wedges in position whereby a fixedrelationship between the roll tire and supporting shaft can bemaintained.

In the assembly of a roll tire and supporting shaft, the roll tire ispreferably heated to a temperature in excess of the shaft temperature.The inner dimension of the roll tire is only slightly greater orslightly less than the outer dimension of the shaft, and the heatingserves to expand the roll tire to simplify positioning of the tire onthe shaft.

At least one key structure of the type described is located in placewhereby the roll tire can be locked in position prior to cooling down tothe temperature of the shaft. Additional key elements are preferablylocated around both sides of the roll tire.

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates a roll shaft adapted torotate within bearing boxes 12. These boxes include roller bearings 14positioned between stationary races 16 and movable races 18 which arepositioned on the shaft by means of locknuts 20. A drive gear (notshown) is provided for imparting rotation to the shaft.

A centrally located shaft section 22 is provided for supporting a rolltire 24. This shaft section comprises a larger diameter section with thedimensions thereof being close to the inner diameter of the roll tire.Accordingly, the roll tire is adapted to be removably received on theshaft section; however, a very close fit will be achieved.

The shaft section 22 defines a plurality of recessed portions 26. Theserecessed portions are located at 90 intervals on both sides of theshaft. A plurality of recessed portions 28 are located in correspondingpositions on the roll tire 24. Accordingly, when a roll tire is placedon a shaft 10, each recessed area 28 can be lined up with a recessedarea 26.

A key structure 30, best illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 12, is adapted to beassociated with the recessed areas of the roll tire and shaft. This keystructure comprises a base 32 and an outward extension 34. As best shownin FIG. 11, the recessed areas 26 are positioned inwardly relative tothe recessed areas 28, and the L-shaped design of the key structuretherefore permits association of the structure with both recessed areas.

The shaft section 22 defines a pair of threaded openings 36 at thebottom of each recessed area 26. The key structure defines a pair ofopenings 38 which are adapted to be aligned with the openings 36 whenthe key base is positioned in the recessed area 26.

A retaining plate 40 best illustrated in FIGS. 10, 13 and 14 definesadditional openings for alignment with the openings 36 and 38. A pair ofbolts 42 are employed for securing the key structure and retaining plateto the shaft section. These bolts define threaded ends 44 whichaccomplishes this purpose.

As illustrated, the recesses 28 are wider than the recesses 26. Inaddition, the sides 46 of the extension 34 taper inwardly whereby theouter extremity of the extension is narrower than the poriton adjacentthe base. This combination results in a pair of openings on oppositesides of the extension 34 adapted to receive wedges 48 as bestillustrated in FIG. 9.

The wedges 48 each define a straight edge 50 and a tapered edge 52adapted to mate with the tapered sides 46 of the extension 34. With theplate 40 in place, pockets are defined on opposite sides of theextension 34 for receiving the wedges 48. Accordingly, the wedges 48 canbe adjusted within these pockets while being retained therein by meansof the plate 40.

A pair of slots 54 are defined by the plate 40, and these slots areadapted to be lined up with openings 56 defined by the wedges 48. Theopenings 56 are threaded openings, and bolts 58 are provided forsecuring the plate and wedges together. The bolts 58 need not betightened until the wedges 48 are in proper position after which thebolts serve to secure the wedges in position.

The heads of the bolts 42 and 58 define openings for receiving wires 60and 62. Once these wires are tightened, rotation of the bolts, forexample rotation which could result from machine vibration, can beprevented.

In the use of a construction of the type described, a roll tire 24 canbe located on a shaft section 22 before the shaft is mounted in bothbearing blocks. In order to facilitate mounting of the roll tire, it ispreferable to heat the tire to a temperature at least F. greater thanthe temperature of the roll shaft section. The slight expansion of theroll tire inner diameter will permit location of the roll tire in placewithout great difficulty, and a snug fit will then be achieved when theroll tire cools to the temperature of the shaft section. It will beappreciated, however, that this technique is not intended as ashrink-fit of the roll tire relative to the shaft section.

The key structures on one side of the roll tire may be located in placeprior to or subsequent to positioning of the roll tire on the shaft. Ina preferred method for assembly, two of the radial keys are bolted inplace by means of plates 40 at diametrically opposite positions. Theheated roll tire is then placed on the shaft and aligned with the keys.The remaining keys are then located in place on both sides of the rolltire. The wedges 48 which are preferably positioned after the retainingplates are in place are forced into tight fitting engagement all aroundboth sides of the roll tire. Finally, the bolts 54 are tightened and thesafety wires added.

The key arrangement for securing roll tires in accordance with thefeatures of this invention eliminates problems which characterize priorart arrangements. Since the tire is attached to the shaft without theuse of a high shrink-fit, severe forces which could lead to cracks arenot developed. In addition, the location of the key recesses 28 in theroll tire is selected so that regions of high stress will not bedeveloped.

The wedges are designed so that the wedge angle is such that thecoefficient of friction will be sufficient to normally retain the wedgesin position. Thus, a small angle of about 7 is preferred to eliminateany great tendency for the wedges to back out of the pockets receivingthe wedges. By employing an arrangement of this nature, the need foraccurate precision machining operations is eliminated. Thus, the rolltire position relative to the shaft can be controlled by means of thewedges even if some of the parts or recesses vary in dimensions. Withthis arrangement, the pockets 64 defined by roll tire can be accuratelylined up with the corresponding pockets on an adjacent roll tire in thecompacting apparatus. Thus, the formation of briquet compacting rollswith complimentary pockets is often required, and it is necessary tomaintain the pockets of the respective rolls in alignment with eachother. The roll structure described herein facilitates this end.

FIG. illustrates one alternative form of theinven tion. In thisconstruction, the key is secured directly to the shaft 22' by means of abolt 42. The shaft portion which supports the roll tire 24 is,in thisinstance, the same length as the roll tire whereby the recesses in theshaft and roll tire which receive the key 30 are in direct alignment.With this arrangement, an inwardly extending base need not be-providedfor the key. The retaining plate is secured by means of bolts 58, andwedges (not shown) are utilized to fill the recess 28' in the mannerdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1-14.

FIGS. 16-19 illustrate a still further alternative form of theinvention. In this instance, the roll tire is provided with a pluralityof keyways 72 which receive keys 74. The keys are spaced apart to defineareas which provide recesses for receipt of keys 76 and wedges 78. Aretaining plate 80 is provided for maintaining the assembly in positionrelative to shaft 82 by means of bolts 84. Additional bolts 86 extendthrough slots 88, and

serve to secure the wedges in place in the manner previously described.

In the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, pairs of dowels 90are secured and press-fit into bores 92 defined by the roll tire 94. Thearea defined between the dowels provides a recess for receiving the key96 and wedges 98. An additional pair of dowels 100 may be press-fit intobores 102 defined by the shaft 104. These dowels serve to align the key96 during assembly. Te retaining plate 106 can then be secured inposition by means of bolt 108. Bolts 110 are then utilized for securingthe wedges in position in the manner already described.

It will be understood that various changes and'modifications may be madein the above described construction which provide the characteristics ofthis invention without departing from the spirit thereof, particularlyas defined in-the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus wherein a roll tire is located on a supporting shaftsection, the improvement comprising means for securing the tire to theshaft, said securing means including at least one key defining a base,means attaching said base to said shaft, a key extension formed on saidbase and extending outwardly therefrom, an area along the side edge ofsaid roll tire receiving said extension, at least one wedge receivedwithin said area along with said extension, and means for adjustablyattaching said wedge within said area whereby fitting of said wedgewithin said area operates to secure said tire against movement relativeto said shaft.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the base of said keyis bolted to said shaft.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said area comprises arecess defined by said side edge, and including a pair of wedgespositioned within said recess on either side of said extension.

4. A construction in accordance with claim 3 wherein the means foradjustably attaching said wedges comprises a plate positioned over saidextension and said wedges, slots defined by said plate, and boltsextending through said slots and connected to said wedges.

5. A construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein said plate extendsover the base of said key, and including first openings defined by saidplate, second openings defined by said base aligned with said firstopen- 6 ings, and third openings in said shaft, said third openingsbeing aligned with said first and second openings, and bolt meansreceived in said aligned openings for securing said plate and key tosaid shaft.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein a plurality of saidkeys are located at circumferentially spaced positions around said tire.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said keys arepositioned on both sides of the tire.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said key comprises anL-shaped member with said base extending axially inwardly'relative tosaidshaft section, and wherein said extension comprises a leg directedradially outwardly relative to said shaft section for engagement withthe sides of said tire, at least one side of said tire extending beyondsaid shaft section for engagement with said leg.

9. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said roll tire islocated on a supporting shaft section having a length approximatelyequal to the roll tire, and including aligned recesses defined by saidroll tire and shaft section, said key comprising a first plate having abase portion fit within a recess defined by said shaft section, and anextending portion positioned within a recess defined by said roll tire,said last mentioned recesses beingsufficiently larger than saidextending portion of said key to permit inclusion of said wedge.

10. A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said roll tiredefines at least one pair of keyways, keys secured within said keywaysand extending outwardly from the side of said roll tire, said area beingdefined between said keys.

11. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including at least onepair of dowels secured on the side of said roll tire, said area beingdefined between said dowels.

12. In a method for securing a roll tire to a supporting shaftsection,said method comprising the steps of providing at least one key,said key including a base and an outward extension thereof, securingsaid base to said shaft, sliding said roll tire onto said shaft, saidroll tire defining an area in at least one side for receiving saidextension, inserting at least one wedge in said area along with saidextension and tightly fitting said wedge and extension in said area tosecure said tire against movement relative to said shaft, and applyingat least one key and wedge combination on the other side of said rolltire.

13. A'me thod in accordance with claim 12 including the steps oflocating a plate in overlapping relationship with each wedge andextension, and fastening said plate to said shaft.

'of recesses positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship aroundsaid roll tire.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said keys and recessesare positioned on both sides of said roll tire.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said recesses areformed in the side edges of said roll tire, said plates combining withsaid recesses to form pockets receiving said extensions with openings insaid pockets on either side of said extensions for receiving saidwedges, said wedges being driven radially inwardly during fitting of thewedges within said pocket openings.

19. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein said area comprises arecess defined between a pair of members extending outwardly from a sideedge of said roll tire, and wherein said plate is secured to said shaftprior to locating a wedge in said recess, and separately securing saidwedge relative to said plate after tight fitting of said wedge in saidrecess.

20. In a material compacting apparatus wherein a roll tire is located ona supporting shaft section, the improvement comprising means forsecuring the tire to the shaft, said securing means including at leastone key defining a base, means attaching said base to said shaft, a keyextension formed on said base and extending outwardly relative to theaxis of said shaft, at least one side of said tire defining a keyreceiving area, said extension being received in said area therebyrestricting movement of said tire relative to said shaft.

21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein the base of saidkey is bolted to said shaft.

22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein a pair of wedgesare positioned within said area on either side of said extension.

23. A construction in accordance with claim 22 including means foradjustably attaching said wedges comprising a plate positioned over saidextension and said wedges, slots defined by said plate, and boltsextending through said slotsand connected to said wedges.

1. In an apparatus wherein a roll tire is located on a supporting shaftsection, the improvement comprising means for securing the tire to theshaft, said securing means including at least one key defining a base,means attaching said base to said shaft, a key extension formed on saidbase and extending outwardly therefrom, an area along the side edge ofsaid roll tire receiving said extension, at least one wedge receivedwithin said area along with said extension, and means for adjustablyattaching said wedge within said area whereby fitting of said wedgewithin said area operates to secure said tire against movement relativeto said shaft.
 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein thebase of said key is bolted to said shaft.
 3. An apparatus in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said area comprises a recess defined by said sideedge, and including a pair of wedges positioned within said recess oneither side of said extension.
 4. A construction in accordance withclaim 3 wherein the means for adjustably attaching said wedges comprisesa plate positioned over said extension and said wedges, slots defined bysaid plate, and bolts extending through said slots and connected to saidwedges.
 5. A construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein said plateextends over the base of said key, and including first openings definedby said plate, second openings defined by said base aligned with saidfirst openings, and third openings in said shaft, said third openingsbeing aligned with said first and second openings, and bolt meansreceived in said aligned openings for securing said plate and key tosaid shaft.
 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein aplurality of said keys are located at circumferentially spaced positionsaround said tire.
 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 whereinsaid keys are positioned on both sides of the tire.
 8. An apparatus inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said key comprises an L-shaped memberwith said base extending axially inwardly relative to said shaftsection, and wherein said extension comprises a leg directed radiallyoutwardly relative to said shaft section for engagement with the sidesof said tire, at least one side of said tire extending beyond said shaftsection for engagement with said leg.
 9. A construction in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said roll tire is located on a supporting shaftsection having a length approximately equal to the roll tire, andincluding aligned recesses defined by said roll tire and shaft section,said key comprising a first plate having a base portion fit within arecess defined by said shaft section, and an extending portionpositioned within a recess defined by said roll tire, said lastmentioned recesses being sufficiently larger than said extending portionof said key To permit inclusion of said wedge.
 10. A construction inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said roll tire defines at least one pairof keyways, keys secured within said keyways and extending outwardlyfrom the side of said roll tire, said area being defined between saidkeys.
 11. A construction in accordance with claim 1 including at leastone pair of dowels secured on the side of said roll tire, said areabeing defined between said dowels.
 12. In a method for securing a rolltire to a supporting shaft section, said method comprising the steps ofproviding at least one key, said key including a base and an outwardextension thereof, securing said base to said shaft, sliding said rolltire onto said shaft, said roll tire defining an area in at least oneside for receiving said extension, inserting at least one wedge in saidarea along with said extension and tightly fitting said wedge andextension in said area to secure said tire against movement relative tosaid shaft, and applying at least one key and wedge combination on theother side of said roll tire.
 13. A method in accordance with claim 12including the steps of locating a plate in overlapping relationship witheach wedge and extension, and fastening said plate to said shaft.
 14. Amethod in accordance with claim 13 wherein said area comprises a recessdefined by said roll tire, and wherein said plate is secured to saidshaft prior to locating a wedge in said recess, and separately securingsaid wedge relative to said plate after tight fitting of said wedge insaid recess.
 15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein two wedgeslocated on opposite sides of said extension are located in each rolltire recess.
 16. A method in accordance with claim 15 including the stepof locating a plurality of said keys in a plurality of recessespositioned in circumferentially spaced relationship around said rolltire.
 17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said keys andrecesses are positioned on both sides of said roll tire.
 18. A method inaccordance with claim 17 wherein said recesses are formed in the sideedges of said roll tire, said plates combining with said recesses toform pockets receiving said extensions with openings in said pockets oneither side of said extensions for receiving said wedges, said wedgesbeing driven radially inwardly during fitting of the wedges within saidpocket openings.
 19. A method in accordance with claim 13 wherein saidarea comprises a recess defined between a pair of members extendingoutwardly from a side edge of said roll tire, and wherein said plate issecured to said shaft prior to locating a wedge in said recess, andseparately securing said wedge relative to said plate after tightfitting of said wedge in said recess.
 20. In a material compactingapparatus wherein a roll tire is located on a supporting shaft section,the improvement comprising means for securing the tire to the shaft,said securing means including at least one key defining a base, meansattaching said base to said shaft, a key extension formed on said baseand extending outwardly relative to the axis of said shaft, at least oneside of said tire defining a key receiving area, said extension beingreceived in said area thereby restricting movement of said tire relativeto said shaft.
 21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 20 wherein thebase of said key is bolted to said shaft.
 22. An apparatus in accordancewith claim 20 wherein a pair of wedges are positioned within said areaon either side of said extension.
 23. A construction in accordance withclaim 22 including means for adjustably attaching said wedges comprisinga plate positioned over said extension and said wedges, slots defined bysaid plate, and bolts extending through said slots and connected to saidwedges.